Awning



April 15, 1958 P. SCHROVYER AWNING Filed April 26. 1954 PA mic/r L. SCHROYER,

IN V EN TOR.

ATTOQNEV.

nited tates v The invention relates to an awning of the rigid type for installation at the upper margin of a window opening.

In an awning of this type in which the roof portion is made up of a series of elongated shingles arranged alongside of each other in interlocking fashion, it would normally be necessary to utilize shingles made of rather thick material in order to prevent the roof structure from sagging under its own weight and particularly when a load is imposed thereon, such as a snow load.

In the specification hereinafter the roof structure is referred to generally as being constructed of shingles which are specifically referred to as trough shingles and cap shingles. In the industry the trough shingles are referred to as being pans and the cap shingles are referred to as caps.

The principal object of the invention is to fabricate a roof structure in which the shingles thereof are interlocked with each other under a stressed condition thereby creating lateral tension between adjacent shingles which tension remains in the shingles during the normal life of the awning. By subjecting the shingles to a condition of permanent tension, I make it possible to increase the overall strength and rigidity of the roof structure, thereby overcoming its tendency to sag and thereby making it possible to utilize thinner material in the fabrication of the shingles and I also make it possible to have a roof structure which is rattle free and water tight.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning having a novel hanger construction for attachment to the end walls and the roof structure of the awning, said hanger affording a ventilation feature wherein heated air is expelled at the ends of the hanger.

Mother object of the invention is to provide an awning formed of a pair of side walls, a roof, a frame structure at the base of the awning and a hanger assembly at the upper end of the awning, there being novel features in the fabrication and assembly of the completed awning unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing specifications and the appended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the, assembled awning mounted at a Window. opening;

Pig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail View taken on the line 22, of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a modified fragmentary detail sectional view.

The assembled awning is generally comprised of a pair of end walls A and B, a roof section C, a hanger assembly E.

Each of the end walls A and By are made up of elongated inner strips 2 and 3 and an outer strip 4 which has its longitudinal side margins overlapping the adjacent side margins of the inner strips 2 and 3 and is rigidly fastened thereto by means of therivets 5. It will be Patented Apr. 15, 1958 the longitudinal inner margins of the strips 2a and 3a are bent outwardly forming the flanges 2b and both of the longitudinal margins of the strip 1:; are bent inwardly throughout their length forming flanges 4b which overlap the flanges of strips Zaand 3a. Sheet metal screw 5a is threaded into the leg 19 and anchors all of the strips 2a, 3a and 4a to the leg.

The roof structure is made up of a series of elongated trough and cap shingles 6 and 7 and the lateraltrough shingles 8 and 9. In Fig. 1 I have shown only one central trough shingle 6, however, it will be understood that an additional number of the shingles 6 and 7 may be utilized alternately in an awning of greater width than that as shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the lateral trough shingles 8 and 9 (see Fig. 2) has one of its longitudinal side margins curled back upon itself so as to form a head 1% extending throughout its length and the opposite longitudinal side margin is curled back upon itself to form a longitudinal bead 11, the direction of curling being opposite from that of head ltt. The trough shingle 6 has each of its longitudinal side margins curled'back upon themselves, each in an upwardly direction when viewing Figs. 1 and 2, to form the marginal interlock beads 12. I The cap shingles 7 have each of their longitudinal side margins curled back upon themselves in a downwardly direction, viewing Figs. 1 and 2, to form the elongated interlock beads 13. Each of the roof shingles are formed of sheet material, initially in strip form, which is sufliciently resilient as to spring back to its original cross sectional shape when any lateral pressure imposed thereon is released. Each of the trough and cap shingles 6 and 7 as well as the lateral trough shingles 8 and 9 are preformed with a generally concave-convex cross sectional configuration intermediate the longitudinal marginal beads thereof. Reinforcing ribs 41 are formed in each shingle for strengthening purposes and for appearance purposes. Viewing Fig, 2 the crossv sectional configuration of'all of the roof shingles in their normal unstressed condition is shown in dotted lines indicated by the numeral 14. In assembling the roof structure, the cap shingles '7 are lined up above the lateral trough shingles 8 and 9 and the trough shingle 6 and then pressure is applied throughout the length of the cap shingles causing them to bow inwardly (viewing Fig. 2) until the longitudinal beads 13 become interlocked with the beads 10 and 12 of the trough shingles. After the interlocking has taken place, all of-the roof shingles remain in a permanently stressed condition, wherein transverse tension is exerted by each shingle upon the adjacent shingle, thereby increasing the overall rigidity of the roof structure and effecting a water tight seal along the interlocking joints as well as rendering the entire roof structure rattle proof.

A roof structure constructed as above with the permanant tension feature will carry a 22 lb. per sq. it. live load with a 3'9" span (shingle length between front leg '21 and the hanger assembly) and it will carry a 5 lb. live load with a span of 7 measured on a horizontal line from the window casing to the front edge of the awning-such loads being carried without the necessity of any cross beams being installed beneath the shingles.

The upper margins of the end walls A and B are preferably inclined and the roof shingles follow the same rate of inclination, however, the shingles are notched in their margins at 16 to permit the lower ends thereof to be bent downwardly in a vertical plane. The marginal beads on each of the roof shingles are terminated at each of these notches and then commence again below said notches so that the vertically positioned lower ends of the cap shingles 7 are likewiseinterlocked with the trough shingles 6 and the lateral trough shingles 8 and 9 under the short vertically directed shingle ends and to tighten the interlock joints thereof so asto definitely assure a rattle free structure, I may utilize a tool having a slotted rod with a cross handle, the slot being guided onto the curled bead lengthwise thereof and the rod then being turned in the manner of a key to further curl the bead until a tight interlock joint is assured.

Each of the end walls has an elongated strip 17 anchored along its inclined upper margin and each ofthese strips has its longitudinal upper margin curled back upon itself to form the interlock bead 18 to which the bead 11 on each lateral trough shingle is interlocked.

The end walls and the roof structure are braced near their lower ends, just beneath a horizontal plane drawn through the notches 16. This. frame structure consists of four tubular legs, including the side legs 19 and the front and rear legs 20 and 21 respectively. These legs may be formed from flat stock initially in strip form and formed with four walls defining a square in cross section. If desired these legs could be of solid material or of pipe circular in section. The trough shingle 6 and the lateral trough shingles 8 and 9 are anchored to the front legs by means of the screws 22, said trough shingles being properly spaced from each other a pre-determined dis tance to assure that the permanent lateral tension between each of the roof shingles will be effected when the cap shingles are-installedin interlocking relation with the trough shingle and the lateral trough shingles. The end walls are anchored to the side legs 19 by means of the screws 23. L-shaped angle brackets 24 are utilized to anchor the side legs 19 to the front leg 20 in their intersecting corners. The rear leg 21 is preferably mounted on top of the side legs 19, its ends overlapping said legs as viewed in Fig. 4 and a pair of L-shaped angle irons 25 are utilized to anchor the upper leg 21 at each of its ends to the side legs 19. Gusset plates 26 may be anchored in the corners defined by the junctures of the front leg20 and each side leg 19 for reinforcing theoverall structure.

The inner margin of each end wall is curled inwardly upon itself to form a marginal reinforcing head 27 which extends around the corner at the juncture of the side legs and the upper leg 21, said bead being anchored to the upper leg 21 by means of screws 28, the beads 27 serve to resist lateral bending of the end walls A and B.

The hanger assembly E which spans the width of the awning at its upper end is comprised of three longitudi nally extending strips 29, 30 and 31 two of which are anchored to the upper ends of the roof shingles. The inner strip 29may be formed with the same sectional configuration as the backing strip 31, each of which has its longitudinal margins curled inwardly upon themselves to form the longitudinal beads 32, 33, 34 and 35 respectively. The inner strip 29 is anchored to the trough shingle 6 and to. the lateral trough singles 8 and 9 by means of nut and bolt assemblies 36 i (only one being shown in Fig. 3). The proper spacing of the trough shingle 6 and the lateral trough shingles 8 and 9 relative to the inner strip 29 is maintained as hereinbefore explained relative to the fastening of these shingles to front leg 20 by the screws 22; The outer strip 30 is anchored to the cap shingles 7 by means of'sheet metal screws 37. The head 33 of inner strip 29 is interlocked with the :bead 34 of the backing strip 31 and subsequently anchored by means of the sheet metal screws 38. The

outer strip 30 has its lower margin curled inwardly upon itself to form the longitudinal reinforcing and bearing head 39 and its upper margin curled outwardly upon itself to form the interlock head 40. The head 40 is thus interlocked with the channel flange 35 on backing strip shingles.

4 31 forming a water tight and a rattle free joint. Thus the three strips which make up the hanger assembly when anchored to each other and to the roof shingles, thereby form a rigid hanger barwhich is highly resistant to lateral bending although made of relatively thin sheet metal material. The backing strip 31 serves as a means for anchoring the awning to the header above the window opening and in the installation of the awning at a window opening the backing strip is anchored by itself to the window header, then the head 33 of strip 29 is interlocked with bead 34 of the backing strip. The outer strip is installed last, with its interlock bead 40 being interlocked with the channel flange 35 of the backing strip. Calking 42 is utilized along the juncture of the bead 35 and the window header 43 to assure a water tight joint. The head 32 which extends along the lower margin of the inner strip 29 serves as a reinforcing rib which spans the width of the roof structure on the underneath side thereof.

Viewing Fig. 3 it will be noted that the hanger assembly is open at each end and the internal elongated chamber defined between the three strips of the hanger functions in the manner of a stove pipe to expel heated air at either end of the hanger. v

I have found that the use of sheet aluminum of .025 gauge is one very suitable type of material from which the shingles and the side panels of the awning can be made, however, I do not wish to be limited to the use of this material.

I claim:

1. An awning comprising: frame members spaced fore and aft; laterally spaced side members fixed to said frame members; alternating upper and lower shingles extending longitudinally between said frame members and supported thereon, said shingles including a pair of side shingles anchored to said side members and a series of intermediate shingles marginally secured to said side shingles and to one another; said shingles including respective body sections of concavo-convexly curved shallow arch cross section and connecting beads along both side margins of each of said body sections, said beads each having an outer portion of semi-cylindrical section integrally joined along one side to a respective side margin of a body section, an inner portion in the form of a flange extending substantially diametrically from the other side of the respective semi-cylindrical outer portion, and acute angular bends joining the respective inner portions to the respective outer portions; the upper shingles being arched upwardly and thelower shingles being arched downwardly; the beads of the upper shingles being interlocked with the beads of the lower shingles with the acute angular bend of one shingle bearingagainst the inner Wall of the semi-cylindrical outer portion of the adjoining shingle and with the inner portions of the respective beads each extending into the space defined between the inner portion and the outer portion of the bead with which it is interlocked, and in overlapping, interlocked engagement with the adjoining inner portion of the adjoining bead, said shingles being of resilient sheet material and being loaded under tension laterally between adjoining shingles with the outer side margins of the side shingles anchored to the respective side members and with said arched body portions of the shingles flattened with respect to their normal unstressed arched cross sectional contour and constantly applying lateral tension loads to the respective interlocked beads for rigidifying the assembly of shingles in said awning.

2. An awning as defined in claim 1, including anchor strips extending along the upper margins of said side members and having respective anchor beads curled outwardly from the upper margins thereof and in interlocking engagement with downwardly and inwardly curled marginal beads on the outer margins of said side 3. An awning as defined in claim 2, wherein said outer marginal beads of said side shingles are provided with inner bead portions projecting upwardly and hooked inwardly of the marginal edges of said anchor beads, and wherein the body portions of said lateral marginal shingles are bowed downwardly and are in compressive bearing engagement with the upper extremities of said anchor beads as the result of the lateral tension in the assembly of shingles.

4. An awning as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said shingle body portions is provided with a pair of reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally in parallel spaced relation to the respective marginal beads thereof and spaced on respective sides of the longitudinal center line of the respective body portions, said reinforcing beads 15 2,7 9,

being indented outwardly from the convex sides of the respective shingles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,539,705 Simonton Jan. 30, 1951 2,549,201 Hunter Apr. 17, 1951 2,585,147 Markle Feb. 12, 1952 2,586,318 Fields Feb. 19, 1952 2,588,011 Kersey Mar. 4, 1952 2,593,221 Thompson et *al Apr. 15, 1952 2,611,935 Kramer et al. Sept. 30, 1952 2,722,042 Kramer et al. Nov. 1, 1955 Aldridge et a1 Mar. 27, 1956 

